HOT TOPIC: SUSTAINABILITY

This issue we asked our experts to tell us how to plan a wedding sustainably RECYCLE AND REUSE

Hannah Mayo-Caligari from Event In A Tent (www.event-in-a-tent.co.uk) says: Sustainability has quickly become a huge consideration when planning a wedding in 2023, as there are so many aspects of such a celebration that can be a burden on the environment. Here are a few tips to help.

When choosing your tent hire company, look at their products and sustainability initiatives. Event In A Tent’s tipi and stretch tents are of the highest quality, and we have a skilled seamstress who completes repairs to them so that our tents can last as long as possible. When they reach the end of their event life, we donate them to charities or use them for patching healthy tents. Our matting is also sustainable as it’s washed and reused, so no temporary flooring goes into landfill.

A big factor in the wedding world is confetti – it often contains plastics damaging to our planet. However, there are a lot of companies that offer a dried flower alternative. Not only is it environmentally friendly, it looks beautiful too.

Consider the number of deliveries coming to your venue to serve your big day. Event In A Tent can provide the tents, furniture, lighting and extras such as heating and dancefloors, so we save on vehicle journeys, cutting down on emissions. Also, on the theme of transport, put on a coach or bus for your guests. This gets your loved ones in the wedding mood while reducing your carbon footprint.

When it comes to your attire, think preloved fashion. We understand that wedding dress shopping is one of the highlights of the planning process, but buying preloved cuts down on single-use items heading for landfill. If you decide you can’t compromise on your dream dress, even the smaller items such as gloves, dried flower crowns, handkerchiefs and bridesmaids’ dresses all make a big difference to our planet.

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Rachel Leon, weddings and events manager at The Manor at Greasby (https://themanorgreasby.co.uk) says: We’re glad to see more and more couples approaching their big days with sustainability in mind. Incorporating waste-reducing aspects in your wedding is a great place to start. From hiring key décor elements to utilising eco-friendly dried flowers, there are some fantastic ways to minimise on-the-day waste.

What’s more, sourcing a venue and wedding suppliers close to home can also help to support the environment. Not only does this assist in reducing carbon emissions from travel for large wedding parties and suppliers, but it gives your big day its own local character.

IT CAN BE DONE!

Celebrant Gill Collins of Gill Collins Ceremonies (www.gillcollinsceremonies.co.uk) says: A couple of years ago, I was fortunate enough to attend a wedding where the bride and groom had put every effort into making their big day as sustainable as possible. All of the food was locally-sourced and the chefs prepared and cooked the whole menu onsite, so the fuel cost of transporting any produce was kept to a minimum, while the carbon footprint was reduced. The same principle was applied to the hire of any equipment, such as table cloths and chair covers. The plates and cutlery were all reusable, and no plastic was used at all.

The centrepieces featured plant arrangements that the guests could take home and plant in their own gardens. The candles were made from soy wax, and again, loved ones were encouraged to take them home and reuse the jars. The favours were handmade soaps, created using natural ingredients and wrapped in reusable muslin bags.

The reception was held in a local village hall, which was completely transformed into the most beautiful venue using fabrics and hundreds of fairylights, however I know that these elements have since been passed on and used at another four weddings and one birthday party!

All of the guests were booked into local hotels and ferried to and from the venue in minibuses to reduce the number of vehicles required. So, everything was sourced within a radius of a few miles of the venue and all elements were either reusable or recycled keeping waste to an absolute minimum. This can all be achieved with reasonable ease, all that’s required is a slightly different way of thinking.

A New Lease Of Life

Rachael Whitwam from O’Hares Jewellers (www.oharesjewellers.co.uk) says: A simple way to make a step towards a more sustainable choice is to look for retailers that use minimal and/or recycled packaging. In addition, instead of buying new wedding rings, look for vintage or family pieces. We offer a service to remake items that couples already have. We can reuse the metal and stones from most pieces of jewellery. This is a lovely option as not only is it sustainable, it allows you to bring new life to a piece that’s already been loved and worn by a treasured family member, while tailoring it to suit your own style and taste.

Cake To Be Kind

Clare Deary from Cake on the Lake (www.cakeonthelake.com) says: All of the ingredients for my wedding cakes are sourced responsibly, minimising any negative impact on the environment. Where relevant and possible, I purchase ingredients with recyclable packaging. I’m also reducing my food miles by using locally-sourced, British seasonal ingredients. Some of these include British flour; Fairtrade sugar; truly organic free-range, locallysourced eggs; British milk and cream with high animal welfare standards and a fair price for farmers; unrefined icing sugar; and much more.

Another way wedding cake makers such as myself can ensure your bigday bake is sustainable is to use a recipe like Madeira sponge, which will last longer and prevent waste. If you do have some left over though, it’s usually still tasty to eat two to three days afterwards. My cakes are never frozen, so you can always pop left over slices in the freezer and enjoy them over the following months. A further way to minimise waste is to serve your showstopping bake as a dessert.

Using natural decorations to adorn your cake means there are fewer materials left for landfill once it’s been eaten and the boards recycled. Why not try edible sugar flowers, which can be displayed in your home afterwards, or fresh flowers that can be pressed? Alternatively, opting for a naked bake uses less ingredients and is also cheaper for you.

So many processes in baking involve the use of plastic – piping bags, baking paper, spatulas. Then there’s the transportation of the final product to think about. Many boxes created for storing and moving cakes will also use plastic in one way or another. Trying to reduce this will make a difference. Some may be unavoidable, but as awareness of plastic use rises, many more ethical options have become available.

Our goldsmiths and precious stone setters have over 50 years experience. We have a huge choice of wedding rings and bridal jewellery in our beautiful city centre shop. No appointment needed.

Something New

The Bobby Pin has launched its 2023 collection of fashionable wedding accessories influenced by some of the year’s hottest trends. These dreamy finishing touches include intricately detailed hair vines, pins and combs in silver or gold metal finishes, plus a range of beautiful bridal earrings. Many designs are adorned with contemporary white clay and pretty porcelain blooms alongside delicate leaf and botanical motifs, while others feature luxurious pearl sprays or glistening crystal stones. To shop, visit https://thebobbypin.co.uk

Ankle grazers

These pearl-encrusted shoes, £130, are from the latest wedding collection by https://aldoshoes.co.uk/ collections/bridal-shoes

EDITOR’S FAVOURITE

This special occasion smock is from the new collection by Smock London. The dresses, which are perfect for flowergirls, are made from the finest fabrics. Hidden within the exquisite designs are secret messages and symbols including a row of hearts, a different flower in each dress plus two eternity symbol motifs symbolizing longevity and good luck. To shop, visit www.smocklondon.com

River Island’s first wedding occasion collection has launched offering a selection of mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses and flowergirl styles. There’s a range of silhouettes in a dreamy colour palette and fashionable fabrics include soft satin and tulle. There’s also stylish suiting for men and boys. To shop, visit www.riverisland.com